Pollution control apparatus

ABSTRACT

Pollution control apparatus in which smoke flows from a chimney through a horizontal pipe section into the side of a generally tubular structure closed at its upper end, thence downwardly through a convergent section and thence upwardly through an exit opening in surrounding relation to the convergent section. A funnel-shaped structure is positioned below the convergent section to receive and direct downwardly traveling particulate matter into the upper end of a relatively thin vertical pipe the lower end of which is coupled to a collection chamber near ground level.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,717,980 Papastavrou 1 Feb. 27, 1973[s41 POLLUTION CONTROL APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Robert L. Lindsay, Jr.Attorney-Alberts, Brezina & Lund [57] ABSTRACT Pollution controlapparatus in which smoke flows from a chimney through a horizontal pipesection into the side of a generally tubular structure closed at itsupper end, thencedownwardly through a convergent section and thenceupwardly through an exit opening in surrounding relation to theconvergent section. A funnel-shaped structure is positioned below theconvergent section to receive and direct downwardly travelingparticulate matter into the upper end of a relatively thin vertical pipethe lower end of which is coupled to a collection chamber near groundlevel.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZ'HBH 3J1? 980 FIG 2 'INVENTORANTQNIOSO PAPAST VROU POLLUTION CONTROL APPARATUS This invention relatesto pollution control apparatus and more particularly to relativelysimple and inexpensive apparatus adapted to receive smoke from a chimneyand to remove particulate matter therefrom with a high degree ofefficiency and without introducing any blocking action which mightinterfere with the drafts of the chimney.

Various types of apparatus have heretofore been proposed for removingparticulate matter from smoke from a chimney including electrostaticprecipitators and filter screens or the like. Such types of apparatushave either been quite expensive or have interfered with the draft ofthe chimney, have been difficult and expensive to maintain and have notalways been reliable. The result has been that in spite of the growingseriousness of the problem, comparatively little use has been made ofpollution control apparatus.

This invention was evolved with the general object of overcoming thedisadvantages of prior types of pollution control apparatus and ofproviding pollution control apparatus which is simple, inexpensive,reliable, efficient and readily installed and maintained.

According to this invention, smoke from a chimney flows into theentrance of a flow path which has a downwardly extending portionproducing a downward velocity of particulate matter in the smoke with anupwardly extending portion between the downwardly extending portion andan exit opening, receiving means being disposed below the downwardlyextending portion to receive the particulate matter. With thiscomparatively simple arrangement, efficient separation is accomplished,the sufficient kinetic energy being imparted to particles in thedownward travel thereof to cause the particles to move into thereceiving means and to be removed from the smoke.

According to an important feature, pipe means extend downwardly from apoint below the downwardly extending portion of the flow path to acollection chamber which may be located at or near ground level, thusfacilitating periodic collection of the matter removed from the smoke.Preferably, the pipe means has a cross-sectional area equal to a smallfraction of the cross-sectional area of the downwardly extending portionof the flow path and the collection chamber is closed to minimize anypossible updraft through the pipe means which might interfere with thetravel of particles to the collection chamber.

According to a specific feature, funnel-shaped wall means are providedbelow the downwardly extending portion of the flow path for directingparticulate matter into the upper end of the pipe means.

According to another feature of the invention, the downwardly extendingportion of the flow path is defined at least in part by a convergentsection which serves to increase the downward velocity of particles andto thus obtain more efficient separation.

The downwardly extending portion of the flow path is preferably definedby tubular means located in horizontally spaced generally parallelrelation to the chimney with a pipe extending horizontally from the sideof the tubular means and to the upper end of the chimney. A secondtubular means is disclosed in spaced surrounding relation to a lower endportion of the first tubular means and cooperates therewith to define agenerally annular exit opening.

According to another important feature, the downwardly extending portionof the flow path has a cross-sectional area substantially greater thanthat of the chimney which achieves two important advantages. First, theoverall rate of flow is reduced to minimize turbulence while stillproducing a downward velocity of particles such as to obtain a smoothseparating action. Secondly, the external dimensions of the apparatus isincreased at the exit opening and in flowing past the apparatus, thevelocity of air flowing in responseto wind currents is increased toobtain a suction effect at the exit opening and continuous flow throughthe apparatus. As a result, there is no adverse effect on thedraft ofthe chimney.

This invention contemplates other objects, features and advantages whichwill become more fully apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate apreferred embodiment and in which:

FIG. 1 isa side elevational view of pollution control apparatusaccording to the invention, shown connected to the upper end of achimney; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing detailsof construction of a main portion of the apparatus.

Reference numeral 10 generally designates pollution control apparatusconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, shownassociated with a building 11 having a chimney 12.

Smoke from the chimney 12 flows into the lower end of a vertical portion13 of a generally L-shaped pipe 14 having a horizontally extendingportion 15 the end of which is coupled to an opening 16 in the wall of atubular member 17, which may preferably be cylindrical. The member 17 isclosed at its upper end by a cap member 18 which may preferably begenerally semispherical ordome-shaped as shown. The lower end of themember 17 is connected to the upper end of a shape and which defines aconvergent section. The

lower end of the member 20, in turn, is connected to the .upper end of ashort tubular member 21 which is preferably cylindrical. The members 17,20 and 21 are so joined, as by welding, to provide sealed connectionstherebetween, or, if desired, they can be formed from a single member ofsheet metal having a'vertical seam.

The member 21 is supported in concentric relation within a member 22 bymeans of suitable screws or bolts 23. A member 24 is secured to theupper end of the member 22 and has a generally frusto-conical shape, anupper end portion ,of the member 24 being secured'on the upper end of atubular member 25. The lower end of the member 25 is secured to theupper end of a funnel member 26 the lower end of which is secured to theupper end of a pipe 27. The lower end of the pipe 27 is coupled to anenclosure 28 which forms a collection chamber and which has a door 30for removal of collected particulate matter. Preferably, a seal isprovided between door 30 and the opening in the enclosure 28, to prevententrance of air except when the door 30 is opened. Enclosure 28 is shownresting on the ground and in any case may preferably be near groundlevel, for ready removal of collected particulate matter. A framework 32is provided for supporting the member 26 from the enclosure 28 and fromthe ground, The framework 33 may preferably include three verticalmembers 33, a series of vertically spaced horizontal braces 34 and aseries of angle braces 35.

In the operation of the apparatus, smoke travels through the pipe 14into the member 17 thence downwardly through members 20 and 21 into thespace between the lower end of member 21 and the funnel downwardlythrough the pipe 27 to the enclosure 28.

The convergent section 20 is important in that it causes an increase inthe velocity of flow and a corresponding increase in the kinetic energyof the particles to prevent the particles from moving upwardly and outinto the atmosphere.

As above noted, a sealed connection is preferably provided between thedoor 30 and the enclosure 28 and the pipe 27 preferably has across-sectional area equal to a small fraction of the cross-sectionalarea of the members 17, 20 and 21, which serves to minimize any updraftin the pipe 27 which might interfere with the separation and removaloperation.

The cross-sectional area of the downward flow portion of the flow path,even at themost restricted portion thereof, within member 21, ispreferably substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of theflow path in the chimney 12. Preferably, there may be a ratio on theorder of 3 or 4 or more. This has important advantages, as pointed outpreviously.

I claim as my invention:

1. In pollution control apparatus for removing particulate matter fromsmoke from a chimney, flow path means having entrance and exit openingsand defining a flow path between said openings, said entrance openingbeing adapted to be coupled to the upper end of a chimney, said flowpath including a downwardly extending portion producing a downwardvelocity of particles in the smoke and having an upwardly extendingportion between said downwardly extending portion and said exit opening,receiving means disposed below said downwardly extending portion forreceiving particulate matter, the lower end of said downwardly extendingportion of said flow path having a cross-sectional area less than thatof the upper end thereof, and a convergent section between said upperand lower ends of said downwardly extending portion, said flow pathmeans comprising a generally tubular member having a generally verticalaxis and defining an upper part of said downwardly extending portion,and a generally frusto-conical hollow member defining said convergentsection, said hollow member having an upper end joined to the lower endof said tubular member and having a lower end of substantially reducedcross-sectional area, said flow path means further comprising a secondgenerally tubular member having an upper end joined to the lower end ofsaid generally frusto'conical hollow member and a third generallytubular member in coaxial relation to and spaced outside said secondgenerally tubular member to define part of said upwardly extendingportion of said flow path.

2. ln apparatus as defined in claim 1, a funnel-shaped member having anupper end joined to the lower end of said third generally-tubular memberand arranged to direct particulate matter into said receiving means.

* IF II! III

1. In pollution control apparatus for removing particulate matter fromsmoke from a chimney, flow path means having entrance and exit openingsand defining a flow path between said openings, said entrance openingbeing adapted to be coupled to the upper end of a chimney, said flowpath including a downwardly extending portion producing a downwardvelocity of particles in the smoke and having an upwardly extendingportion between said downwardly extending portion and said exit opening,receiving means disposed below said downwardly extending portion forreceiving particulate matter, the lower end of said downwardly extendingportion of said flow path having a cross-sectional area less than thatof the upper end thereof, and a convergent section between said upperand lower ends of said downwardly extending portion, said flow pathmeans comprising a generally tubular member having a generally verticalaxis and defining an upper part of said downwardly extending portion,and a generally frusto-conical hollow member defining said convergentsection, said hollow member having an upper end joined to the lower endof said tubular member and having a lower end of substantially reducedcross-sectional area, said flow path means further comprising a secondgenerally tubular member having an upper end joined to the lower end ofsaid generally frusto-conical hollow member, and a third generallytubular member in coaxial relation to and spaced outside said secondgenerally tubular member to define part of said upwardly extendingportion of said flow path.
 2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, afunnel-shaped member having an upper end joined to the lower end of saidthird generally tubular member and arranged to direct particulate matterinto said receiving means.